Safety attachment for aerocraft.



P. J. OOATES. SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR AEROGRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 8, 1911.

1,004,742. Q Patented 0013.3,1911.

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FBEDERIC J. COA'IES, OF -PI-iILADELPHLA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAFETY .TTACHMENT FOB AEROORAFT.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0a. a, 191 1 Application filed March 8, 1911. Serial No. 613,063.

1'0 allwhom'itvnay comer m Be it l cnow nthat I,.-Fannnn1o J; Coa'rns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, .in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain-new'and useful Safety Attachments for Aerocraft', of which the fol'lowing is a specification,

The principal object ofthe present invention is to equip aerocraft with a safety attachment, which may be maintained in: collapsed or horizontal position during theflight of the machine to which it is applied, but which maybe readily and quickly moved to vertical or operative position by thenav-igator should the working partsof the aero craft for any reason cease toproperly operate, thereby permitting; the aerocraftto=descend balloon like fashion'in contra-distinction from being: dashed to the ground.

The invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described and finally claimed The nature,: characteristic features, and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with-the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof andin which:

Figure 1, is a perspective View. of aero-' craft equipped with the safety attachment of the invention, showing the same n eollapsed or inoperative position, Fig. 2, is a view in side elevation of the aeroeraft show ing the'safety attachment in vertical or operative position, .Fig. 3, is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly insection of details of construction, and Fig. 4, is a fragmentary view in elevation of a further detail of construction.

In the drawings, the aerocraft 1, which may be of any well-known construction has mounted thereon at the front thereof bearings 2, which extend forwardly of the aerocraft and mounted between which for partial rotation is ashaft 3. The shaft 3, has

fixed theretoa grooved segment-14, fixed 'to' which and extending therefrom is a tubular member 4, arranged at a slight inclination to the aerocraft top, A stationary upright 5, which'may be carried by the casting" a, forming the bearings 2, is also present, provided at its top with a roller 6, and having projected inwardly therefrom and pivoted .adi'acent its top aadownwardly directed tubu ar member 7.

, Normally contained within the tubular POl'tiOlll, above mentioned is the central rod 8, 0f a parachute-9, the outer end of'said rod 8, being supported by'an upright 10, carried by the rudder guide or other convenient place. As shown the 'outer end of the rod 8, 1s hollow and has fitted therein a slidable member 11,,equipped with an eye 12, which projects through the slotted top of the rod'S. Connected with the eye 12, of the member 11, is acord, chain or' the like 13, which passes forwardly of the aerocraft through is a runner 17, connecting which and the parachute-parts are ribs 18. Having pivotal relation with the. runner 17, is a spreader rod 19, which is adapted to fitwithin the tubular portion 7, of the upright 5, when the parachute is in normal position. A ring 20,

is provided connecting which-and the foui' corners of the aerocraft are cables 21,- and connecting the ring 20, andvarious portions of the perimeter of the parachute are a multiplicity of cords or cables '22. J

The operation of the above described-dc vice may be said to -be as followsz As long as the aerocraft'is workin properly,'- the safety attachment is maintained in horizon tal position as shown in Fig. 1. When in this osition the member 11, ofthe rod 8, whic may be termed a detent is retained-by the ring like top of the support 10.- Should,- however, for any reason the working parts of the aerocraft fail to properly operate and 'the apparatus commence'toi drop, the navigator immediately turns thecrank of the drum 15, in the proper direction thereby releasing the detent 11, from the ring like portion of the support 10. By continued operation of the drum 15, the outer end of the parachute is raised in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, through the instrumentality of the cord 13, cooperating with the pivot-ally arranged segment 14, and its complemental tubu understood that during this movement that the stationaryupright 5, and its complemental tubular members 7'," serve to force upward the runner 17, of the parachute to ex; tend the same. When the parachute has partially raised from a horizontal to a vertical position atmospheric air is calculated to fill and fully open the parachute thereby causing the parts 8, and 19, to leave the parts 4,

ar portion 4, it beingchute the aerocraft will and 7, and permit the parachute to'assume the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position the cords 22, and cables 21, together with the ring 20, serve to centralize the parachute as a whole with respect to the aerocraft and at the same time anchor the parachute thereto.- In this osition of the para e sutficiently buoyed .to permit of its gradual descent to earth.

By the above described arrangement and y construction of parts it will be understood that the parachute as a whole normally has hinged relation with the aerocraft by virtue of the segment 14, tubular portion 4, and

vthe rod 8-, of the parachute. As the parachute is moved-around its hinged point and atmospheric air fills the same to extended position the parachute then has merely anchored relation with the aerocraft.

What I claim is:

1. In combination an aerocraft, a'hinged socket surmounti-ng the aerocraft, a single parachute disposed horizontally of the aerocraft in alcollapsed state, the stem of said parachute being normally received in said' socket, manual operated means for raising the parachute free of said socket to ver-i ticalposition above the aerocraft in extended position-and means for anchoring the parachute to the aerocraft.

2. In combination an aerocraft, ahinged socket surmounting the aerocraft, a single parachute arranged horizontally of the aerovcraft in a collapsed and locked state the stem of said parachute being vnormally received in said socket, means for releasing the parachute locking mechanism and simultaneously raising the parachute free of said socket to a vertical and extended position above'the aerocraft and means for anchoring the parts chute to the aerocraft. i

3. In combination an aerocraft, a hinged segment provided with a socket Sui-mounting the aerocraft, a parachute anchored to the aerocraft the stem of which is normally received in a horizontal position by said socket, means for locking the. arachute in horizontal position, and manna y o erated means operatively connected -withsai para cllliute for releasing the locked position of t e 111 at craft.

.4. In-combination an aerocraft, segment and a hinged chored to the aerocraft the stem of said parachute normally received in a horizontal position by said socket, means for locking the parachute in horizontal position means as a cable for cooperating with said 'se ent for releasing "the parachute and elevating the same to a vertical and extended position above'the aerocraft, and free of said socket and means for anehoring'the parachute to.

the aerocraft.

5. In combination an aerocraft, a hinged segment and its complemental socket surmounting the aerocraft, a parachute, anchored to the ae'rocraft, the stem ofwhich freely engages said socket when in Huh-Orlzontal position, a detent carried by the outer .end of the parachute stem, an element carparachute and for simultaneously raisthe same free of said socket to a vertiand extended position above the aeroits oomplemental socket sur- 'molllltlng the aerocraft, a para h 

